March 6, 2018

A rapid DNA test lets animal shelters know with certainty that a cat or kitten is negative for ringworm, allowing those kitties to head straight out to the adoption floor or into foster care without concern that they might be contagious. The test considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing ringworm (Microsporum canis dermatophytosis) in cats is… Learn More

February 6, 2018

Whether your animal organization does large-scale transport in or out of your area, or moves one animal at a time for out-of-state adoptions, keeping those pets from getting sick, experiencing stress, or spreading disease into the receiving shelter or community is critical. Transport of animals from areas with limited adoption opportunities to those where there… Learn More

June 6, 2017

Summertime, and the shelter is crowded. That means it’s the season to prevent disease by helping keep pets from entering the shelter at all! Right now, there’s a confirmed outbreak of the highly contagious H3N2 strain of canine influenza virus (CIV) in Florida, Georgia and six other states, which is combining with kitten season to… Learn More

March 21, 2017

When hundreds of cats in the New York City Animal Care and Control shelters tested positive for avian influenza last year, everyone involved set their only goal — saving the cats’ lives. That was a goal they reached, thanks to shelter medicine and the power of collaboration. “The NYACC did not want to euthanize a… Learn More

July 26, 2016

Animal shelters have been among the places hardest-hit with infections of the H3N2 canine influenza virus since it made its first U.S. appearance in dogs from a Chicago animal shelter. Understanding how to prevent the spread of this respiratory disease is critical to protecting dogs in shelters and the community. One key to preventing transmission… Learn More

April 13, 2016

It’s Heartworm Awareness Month. Do you know as much as you think you do about heartworm disease in dogs and cats? Feline Heartworm Infection: The big surprise! Yes, we said cats. While only 5 percent of cats are on heartworm preventive, the American Heartworm Society reports rates of diagnosed heartworm infections in cats are on the… Learn More

January 19, 2016

Few areas of veterinary medicine have seen greater change than research and recommendations around immunity to disease and vaccination. New guidelines from the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) provide important context and recommendations for both veterinarians and animal shelters in how to put that new understanding to work… Learn More

December 15, 2015

You may know Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) isn’t a death sentence for cats. But did you know exactly how it impacts the length of time they live? Would it surprise you to know it doesn’t? At the 2015 NAVC Veterinary Conference, Annette L. Litster, BVSc, PhD, FANZCVSc (Feline Medicine), MMedSci (Clinical Epidemiology), former Director of… Learn More

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, and Jordana MoerbeFebruary 2015

Austin Pets Alive! Medical Clinic treats thousands of cats a year, many who are straight off of the euthanasia list because of medical conditions such as feline leukemia, FIV, renal disease, hepatic lipidosis, skin problems, viral diseases, and trauma. They save them all and this session is about how they do it. Learn More

Tracy Stokol, BVSc, PhDJuly 2014

This presentation consists of a review of sample collection, smear preparation and staining of cytology samples. The lecture will conclude with instructions on general slide evaluation for common lesions diagnosed on cytology and clinical cases to practice your skills. Learn More

Tracy Stokol, BVSc, PhDJuly 2014

This presentation focuses on the basics of the blood smear evaluation and will be followed by case examples. The main objective of the lecture is to demonstrate a systematic approach to examining a blood smear in order to gain valuable information for patient assessment and management in the emergency setting. Learn More

Ronald D. Schultz, MS, Ph.D., Diplomate, ACVMFebruary 2013

Many diagnostic tests can be of tremendous value in helping shelters prevent future outbreaks of infectious disease. Diagnostic testing can also save money and - most importantly - can save animal lives.
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Ronald Schultz, MS, PhD, DACVMSeptember 2011

Leading vaccine researcher Dr. Ronald Schultz doesn't want to see any more shelter pets die just because they've been exposed to a deadly infectious disease. That's why he offered a shelter a chance to make a different choice during their next outbreak, allowing them to save the lives of 17 dogs. How did they do it? With the use of a simple in-house antibody titer test that revealed which pets had an immunity to the disease. Learn More